Exhibit 99.1

Per-Se Technologies Announces First Quarter 2004 Operations Update

    ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 19, 2004--Per-Se Technologies,
Inc. (Nasdaq: PSTI), the leader in Connective Healthcare solutions
that help physicians and hospitals realize their financial goals,
today released an operations update for quarter ended March 31, 2004.

    Physician Services Division

    During the first quarter of 2004, the Physician Services division
achieved record net new business sold of approximately $12 million,
which includes the division's strong January 2004 performance. This
compares to net new business sold of approximately $3 million in the
first quarter of 2003. "I expect a strong new sales performance for
the division this year as our sales force continues to gain momentum,"
stated Philip M. Pead, Per-Se's chairman, president and chief
executive officer. The Company defines net new business sold as the
annualized revenue value of new contracts signed in a period, less the
annualized revenue value of terminated business in that same period.
    Net backlog at March 31, 2004 was approximately $5 million. "As
anticipated, we implemented a record level of new business into our
recurring revenue stream during the latter part of the first quarter,"
stated Pead. Net backlog represents the annualized revenue related to
new contracts signed with the business still to be implemented, less
the annualized revenue related to terminated contracts where the
business continues to be processed.
    "Our client retention metrics were strong during the quarter as we
continue to deliver high-quality revenue cycle management services to
our physician groups," stated Pead. "During the first quarter, the
Physician Services division received the NorthFace ScoreBoard
Award(SM) for 2003. The annual award, presented by Omega Management
Group Corp., recognizes organizations that provide exemplary customer
service. We received a near-perfect score from the nearly 200 randomly
selected Per-Se clients that participated in the award survey."

    Hospital Services Division

    New business sold in the Hospital Services division during the
first quarter of 2004 was approximately $7 million, compared to new
business sold of approximately $6 million during the first quarter of
2003. "In the Hospital Services division, we are delivering on our
strategy to improve the financial health of hospitals with important
new product introductions during the first quarter, including
web-based versions of our staff and patient scheduling solutions,"
stated Pead. "Our new product development initiatives during 2004 will
continue to position us as a leader in the administrative side of
healthcare."
    Medical-related transaction volume in the division increased
approximately 6% in the first quarter of 2004 compared to the prior
year period.

    Physician Services Leadership Changes

    The Company also announced today that Frank Murphy, who has served
as president of the Physician Services division since 2000, has
accepted the position of president and chief executive officer of
Smart Documents Solutions, a privately held healthcare company. The
Company will continue to employ Murphy on a part-time basis to assist
with transitional duties.
    "For the past six years, as part of our executive management team,
Frank has made a significant contribution. Under his leadership, the
Physician Services operations have streamlined processes and
implemented new technology to improve both service delivery to our
hospital-affiliated physician clients and profitability for the
division," stated Pead. "We wish him well in his new leadership role."
    The Company also announced today two key appointments in the
Physician Services division aimed at further enhancing operational
effectiveness while simultaneously focusing on revenue growth.
    Patrick Leonard has been appointed to the newly created position
of senior vice president of operations. Leonard, who was previously
responsible for the division's largest specialty, radiology, is now
responsible for all aspects of operations, including revenue growth
initiatives, for the specialties of radiology, pathology,
anesthesiology and emergency medicine.
    David Mason has been appointed senior vice president, academic and
multispecialty operations. Mason, who has been responsible for
delivering service enhancements to clients in all specialties, will be
responsible for all aspects of operations for the academic and
multispecialty operations. This market is unique in that it requires a
multispecialty focus delivered through a separate, dedicated team.
    "I am excited about this change in our operational leadership. Pat
and Dave have a combined 24 years experience in managing the revenue
cycle for physicians," stated Pead. "Their focus is on driving
profitable revenue growth for their respective operations. This will
include implementing programs to leverage technology to improve
productivity and more closely align operations with sales." Both
Leonard and Mason report directly to Pead.

    Nasdaq Hearing Date Set

    On April 5, 2004, the Company announced that, as expected, it had
received a noncompliance notification from The Nasdaq Stock Market
(Nasdaq) due to the delay in filing its 2003 annual report on Form
10-K. The Company has requested a hearing on the matter before a
Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel. The hearing date has been set for
April 29, 2004.
    The additional procedures that have resulted in the filing delay
are still in progress. The Company continues to cooperate fully with
the outside accountants performing the additional procedures to ensure
the 2003 Form 10-K can be filed as quickly as possible.

    Conference Call

    Per-Se will host a conference call for institutional investors and
security analysts at 10:30 a.m. Eastern time today. Investors are
invited to access a live audio broadcast of the call via Webcast. The
Webcast can be accessed at www.per-se.com in the Investors section by
selecting the Webcast link. Listeners should go to the website at
least 15 minutes before the scheduled start time of the conference
call to download and install any necessary audio software. For those
unable to listen to the live broadcast of the call, a replay will be
available shortly after completion of the call and will be archived on
Per-Se's website for approximately 60 days.

    About Per-Se Technologies

    Per-Se Technologies (Nasdaq: PSTI) is the leader in Connective
Healthcare. Connective Healthcare solutions from Per-Se enable
physicians and hospitals to achieve their income potential by creating
an environment that streamlines and simplifies the complex
administrative burden of providing healthcare. Per-Se's Connective
Healthcare solutions help reduce administrative expenses, increase
revenue and accelerate the movement of funds to benefit providers,
payers and patients. More information is available at www.per-se.com.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This Press Release contains statements that constitute
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Act of
1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements contained in this Press Release include the intent, belief
or current expectations of the Company and members of its management
team with respect to the Company's future business operations, the
filing of the Company's 2003 annual report on Form 10-K and its
listing on Nasdaq as well as the assumptions upon which such
statements are based. Forward-looking statements include specifically,
but are not limited to, net new business sold projections, new
business sold projections, net backlog projections, the hearing date
before the Nasdaq Qualifications Listing Panel and the timing and
outcome of the additional procedures and subsequent filing of the 2003
Form 10-K. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such
forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance,
and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may
differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking
statements. Important factors currently known to management that could
cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by
the forward-looking statements in this Press Release include, but are
not limited to, failure to successfully implement sales backlog,
client losses, adverse developments or increased costs with respect to
litigation and adverse developments with respect to the operation or
performance of the Company's business units or the market price of its
common stock, failure to file the 2003 Form 10-K before Nasdaq
delisting occurs, and failure to continue its common stock's listing
on Nasdaq. Additional factors that would cause actual results to
differ materially from those contemplated within this Press Release
can also be found in the Company's Safe Harbor Compliance Statement
included in the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September
30, 2003 and Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002. The
Company disclaims any responsibility to update any forward-looking
statements.

    CONTACT: Per-Se Technologies, Atlanta
             Company Contact
             Michele Howard, 770/444-5603
             michele.howard@per-se.com
                 or
             Manning Selvage & Lee
             Media Contact
             Shannon Whalen, 404/870-6835
             shannon.whalen@mslpr.com